Fast Food Rights calls protests in Britain for global day of action on 15 May

8 May 2014

An international gathering of trade unions and campaigns working for workers’ rights in the fast food industry has called for a day of action next Thursday 15 May against McDonalds.

There will be a major London protest at 4pm at the McDonalds on Whitehall (just by Trafalgar Square).

The bakers’ union BFAWU and the Fast Food Rights campaign are calling for people to back the protest and for protests to be organised across Britain on the same day.

Press release from BFAWU about the protests:

The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) is an international federation of Trade Unions uniting people who work in the food service, tourism and other industries. It comprises of 396 affiliated organisations in 126 countries, representing a combined membership of 12 million workers.

On May 7th 2014, the IUF wrote to the McDonald’s Corporation calling for an end to “abusive, precarious employment practices, mobile working hours and zero hours contracts” and to comply fully with the relevant labour laws in every country where they operate. The call was also made to engage with workers’ representatives to improve wages, terms and conditions. As yet, McDonalds have refused to accept this letter.

In light of the growing momentum and strength of feeling among those working in the fast-food industry, a global day of action has been arranged for May 15th 2014.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) is pleased to be standing alongside other organisations across the globe in action to end exploitation and low pay in the fast food industry. These hugely profitable companies need to understand that they have a social responsibility to the communities they operate in. This means paying a living wage and ending the use of zero hour contracts which offer nothing other than in-work poverty.

On May 15th, we will be organising events in towns and cities up and down the country to make the general public aware of the exploitation taking place on their high streets. We will be demanding better pay, better conditions and dignity in the workplace. It’s a fair aim that has already garnered the support of countless numbers of people of all ages, celebrities, bishops and Members of Parliament.

An event has been planned in Trafalgar Square at 4pm on the day that will include Union officials and MPs as well as workers in the industry.

We are confident that the collective strength of people will turn the tide and secure fair play for all those enduring exploitation and dehumanisation in this multi billion pound industry”